1982:
Connie Wilkes had already conned pretty much everyone in California when
she set her sites on Pine Valley. Model Erica Kane was the city’s
rising star. Connie decided to pose as her long lost sister, Silver Kane,
so as weasel her way into Erica’s life. Mona Kane confirmed that
Erica's father had married a woman after their divorce and produced another
child, Silver. Erica was at first hesitant to accept her “sister,”
but Connie proved to be an asset as her personal assistant. Knowing Erica
trusted her fully, Connie began the second phase of her plan by sabotaging
Erica’s performance at her photo shoots.
As Erica busily tried to compensate for her mistakes, Connie befriended
Erica's lover, Kent Bogard. Connie seduced Kent, and they began a secret
affair.
Connie spotted Jesse Hubbard when he snuck back into town. She reported
the alleged rapist to the police, making her a public hero.

1983: Connie was determined to surpass her fake sister’s
fame. She began booking modeling jobs behind Erica’s back. When
Erica found out, she reacted by kicking Connie out of her home. Connie
was ruined without Erica as a means for support. Kent, realizing the errors
of his ways, broke things off with Connie too. She retaliated by telling
Erica about the affair.
Connie caught Erica and Kent in a fight over the affair. The gun Erica
had given Kent for his birthday accidentally discharged. Kent was dead.
Connie seized the moment and turned Erica in for maliciously murdering
Kent.
With Erica on the run, Connie thought she had won out. She asked Lars
Bogard, Kent's father, to name her the new American Beauty. But a recent
Pine Valley citizen's return was set to compromise her new life. Tad Martin
recognized Connie as a well-known con artist in California. Connie’s
true identity came out. She admitted to framing Erica for murder, and
was extradited back to the West Coast.